Driving a Renault Clio Rally3, Pelamourgues announced his arrival to the WRC on Thursday evening with a 10-second victory over the more experienced Rossi on his very first stage at the international level.
Rossi, piloting a Ford Fiesta Rally3, hit back immediately with a 13-second advantage on the next stage, ultimately claiming the overnight lead heading into Friday. The evening’s final test was abandoned.
A brace of stage wins on Friday morning put Pelamourgues back on top. Such was his dominance that the 24-year-old arrived at midday service in Gap with a lead of over a minute.